Esqueda and Alnazer Pace Panthers at State Championship

Hartnell distance ace Ricky Esqueda placed fifth in the 10,000 meter run on Friday night just missing All-American honors by 0.71 seconds. Esqueda stopped the clocked at 31:42.78 just behind fall's cross country state champion Manuel Fernando of Mt. SAC. Esqueda moves to ninth fastest in school history. Sophomore Adam Alnazer went through a one year transformation that saw him go from missing the regional final in the 800 meters by one spot to placing fifth at the state championship. His 1:55.52 for fifth was his second fastest performance of the season and just missed out on All-American honors by one second. Freshman Jack Fling will look to improve on his eleventh place in the pole vault next year. Williams Ordaz completed his career with an eleventh place in the 10,000 meters. Fernando Garcia was twelfth in the long jump. Jonathan Saldana was unable to complete his final race as a Panther after an unfortunate fall in the 3000 meter steeplechase.

Next year's CCCAA State Track & Field Championship will be held at Sacramento City College.